Automatic Implant Verification and Identification System (AIVIS)

Intervision Global Ltd provide bespoke inline inspection systems for the automotive, food &
beverage, life science, medical device and pharmaceutical industries. Set up in 2004 as V-Viz
Ltd, Intervision Global have built a reputation as an experienced and reliable expert in
inspection system design, specification, installation and support, and have a global blue-chip
customer base.
As an approved supplier to one of the largest orthopaedic implant manufacturers in the world,
Intervision Global have identified a market need for a flexible inspection system for
orthopaedic implants. The proposed Automated Implant Verification & Identification System
(AIVIS) will be able to verify the product and size type as well as uniquely identify the
component with a laser mark for identification and serialisation. Wrong labelling and
manufacturing issues contributed to the recall of 1287 knee and hip replacement implants
between 2002 and 2013 in the US, which is why medical device regulations demand that
processes are properly validated.
Validation of processes adds a significant amount of time and effort to the development cycle
for new orthopaedic implants. The advantage of the proposed AIVIS system is that it will be
designed to remove much of the burden of validation. This is because instead of having to
validate a bespoke inspection and laser marking system for each new product, the system will
be supplied in a validation-ready condition and can be easily adapted for use with subsequent
new designs without having to go through the full validation process.
This will deliver significant savings for orthopaedic implant manufacturers and allow them to
bring new products to market more quickly. Better-performing, longer-lasting implants are
needed because the global orthopaedics market is growing at a Compound Annual Growth
Rate (CAGR) of 5% from £19.2bn in 2012, including an increasing number of younger
patients who want to remain active and are likely to live longer.